Democracy

Back in the days when I attended ' World Today' in the College to discuss about World Issues, I often wondered myself: Who am I do jot concern to my own country? Am I even knowledgeable enough to discuss about it? Am I eligible for political discussion?

An editor pointed out that Malaysians in general are reluctant to claim for their rights. A taxi driver have cheated a few dollars, and we take the "nevermind "attitude. Different races are not treated equally, there are little chance to study in a Public University, "Nevermind, my parents work enough to support me, I don't need to complain. " Thus my attitude thinking that, Its okay for things are not going in the right track, because people around will adapt to the situation and live with it. The more you complain, the more you suffer from not getting the right action.

Gradually, people has forgotten about they are members of the society who's individual rights can actually make a difference when you want to make a change. That is when you want to.

I cannot describe my feeling when I met the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Jaturon Chaisaeng. A powerful and prominent person like him, speaking casually with two young girls, who has yet to learn about the outside world. Yushan and I are certainly the lucky ones.

As I only know the brief news about the Military takeover in Thailand, I listened quietly as Yushan asked about the main factor that cause the 'koo'. It started all from the word: " Democracy" He says, clear and fluent, taking all my attention.

The contituition of a country is supposed to be the most and utmost important document that cannot be changed in the country. However the constituition in Thailand has been changed 17 times since it first existed, deligating the 'power' to the favour party, Now and then after the military takeover.

How do you fight for democracy when the question is about " having a democratic constituition"? Whenever the people think the government is not good enough, they pull all the roots out, including the good ones, and start all over, leaving an empty land for makeover.

How tired can one be? Thailand has been moving to quite a sustain development. However 80 % of the interllectual actually support the military takeover, instead of waiting for the next election.

Then again it comes back to the education systems. Apparently, every field of expertise has their own council. The council decide what is the syllabus for their own field, and rarely interact with the outside world about the updates and advanced information. It is kept in a well.
The minister of education, which he has been before, has no control over the system, since people are refusing to change. When there is a suggestion, the answer will be a No.

"Renaissance" in Europe happened because experts of all field came together and shared their knowledge and experience. They help each other to improve and to be not too skeptical about their own views, the host said.

Every country has issues of their own. I am not touching senstitive issues here but just trying to have a grasp of what information I have been receiving. For those who understand the word Democracy, they have been fighting since 1970s for it to happen. Student activists from that time had a huge demonstration which is similar to China's "Tian an Men" incident. After the Military kill hundreds of people, these student activists ran into the forest, surviving by their own agricultures and spirit to live, in the most basic way, for almost four years.

"As long as the constituition is allowed to change, and people still believe in bringing peace through Violence, Democracy , is yet to happen. "

Democracy is actually a chance to speak out and have equal rights. A very simple explanation. But, how many country in the world has true Democracy?

Mr Jaturon is exempted from Voting nor held any political rights for 5 years, and so are the other 110 people under the Taksim regime. I personally felt that he is a sincere politician who really cares for his country. Before we ended our conversation, he said he has been a politician for 20 years, and still will be one.

AT some point of the conversation, I asked myself, "How many people really care about politics in their country, if they are fighting in their daily life with poverty, family problems, access to education?"

It inspired me to expose the children I teach about democracy and the right curiosity towards knowledge, for that it is how I came to stop by and say Hello to them. English class can be really flexible, the content is ANYTHING in English. I realized it today.